KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management said Wednesday itis looking for alternative plans to carry out operations as six of itsaircraft reach lease expiration.

Six Airbus 320 aircrafts PIA acquired on lease will begin to returnstarting from March 2021, and the last of them is due to be returned byAugust next year, as the agreements are set to expire while the nationalflag carrier said it has decided to acquire eight new crafts in its fleet.

Chief Executive Officer of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik has finalized thedecision to sign new six-year lease for eight narrow body crafts, PIAspokesperson said, adding that all of eight planes will have arrived inPakistan by December 2021.

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We have issued tender advertisements and have procured proposals nationallyand internationally for all eight aircrafts comprising 170-seat capacity,spox said.

The spox represented the stance link ofPIA that arrival of new Airbus 320 and Boeing737 crafts will ensure growthin the airlines and will help embark the flag carrier. He said it wouldhave transpired earlier but had to be postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak.